Mark 1:1-45 CEV

[1] This is the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [2] It began just as God had said in the book written by Isaiah the prophet, "I am sending my messenger to get the way ready for you. [3] In the desert someone is shouting, 'Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.'" [4] So John the Baptist showed up in the desert and told everyone, "Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven." [5] From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River. [6] John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey. [7] John also told the people, "Someone more powerful is going to come. And I am not good enough even to stoop down and untie his sandals. [8] I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!" [9] About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. [10] As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove. [11] A voice from heaven said, "You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you." [12] Right away God's Spirit made Jesus go into the desert. [13] He stayed there for forty days while Satan tested him. Jesus was with the wild animals, but angels took care of him. [14] After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God. [15] He said, "The time has come! God's kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!" [16] As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake. [17] Jesus said to them, "Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish." [18] Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him. [19] Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets. [20] At once Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father in the boat with the hired workers and went with him. [21] Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum. Then on the next Sabbath he went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching. [22] Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses. [23] Suddenly a man with an evil spirit in him entered the meeting place and yelled, [24] "Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are God's Holy One." [25] Jesus told the evil spirit, "Be quiet and come out of the man!" [26] The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left. [27] Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, "What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him." [28] News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee. [29] As soon as Jesus left the meeting place with James and John, they went home with Simon and Andrew. [30] When they got there, Jesus was told that Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. [31] Jesus went to her. He took hold of her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she served them a meal. [32] That evening after sunset, all who were sick or had demons in them were brought to Jesus. [33] In fact, the whole town gathered around the door of the house. [34] Jesus healed all kinds of terrible diseases and forced out a lot of demons. But the demons knew who he was, and he did not let them speak. [35] Very early the next morning, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. [36] Simon and the others started looking for him. [37] And when they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you!" [38] Jesus replied, "We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people. This is why I have come." [39] Then Jesus went to Jewish meeting places everywhere in Galilee, where he preached and forced out demons. [40] A man with leprosy came to Jesus and knelt down. He begged, "You have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to." [41] Jesus felt sorry for the man. So he put his hand on him and said, "I want to! Now you are well." [42] At once the man's leprosy disappeared, and he was well. [43] After Jesus strictly warned the man, he sent him on his way. [44] He said, "Don't tell anyone about this. Just go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed." [45] The man talked about it so much and told so many people, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town. He had to stay away from the towns, but people still came to him from everywhere.